The writing of A Woman Unknown

Abstract

Lucia Graves discusses the process of writing A Woman Unknown, her memoir about the years she lived in Spain from 1946 to the 1990s and the social changes she witnessed during that time. In this article she discusses the structure of her book, the link between memory and emotion, and how she selected her memories to fit into the various themes covered, or vice versa. She writes about her use of poetry and song to give support to her recollections, the need for research for accuracy, and how various real-life characters are used as prototypes to represent different types of Spanish women, illustrating events that have taken place over the years. The article also touches on the subjects of bicultural upbringing, identity and translation, on her own personal attachment to Spain - and Catalonia - and her view of Spain both as an ‘outsider’ and an ‘insider’.